Stem between the nodes. The ordinary s 
1894.) Leguminose of Siam. 501 
Of the genus C@salpinia, two species are rather peculiar, 
especially to an inhabitant of a cooler climate. One, C. bon- 
acealla, is an extensive woody climber, sometimes reaching to 
a distance of seventy feet or more on each side of the parent 
stem, and a jungle where there are many of these plants is 
next to impassable because of the binding power of the 
branches, covered with strong recurved prickles. 
C. pulcherrima is a small tree frequently planted for orna- 
mental purposes. The copious, wide-spreading, terminal ra- 
cemes of reddish orange or yellow flowers, cause the tree to 
appear like a great bouquet. It has been named the ‘‘pea- 
cock tail tree” by the Siamese. ; 
Of all the genera of Leguminose represented, I think no one 
has a larger number of species than Cassia. Of these C. fistula 
isthe most noticeable. It is a medium sized tree, which during 
the hottest part of the dry season is literally loaded with great 
bunches of large bright sulphur-colored flowers. Here again, 
the absence of leaves at the time of flowering is conspicuous. 
The pods of this tree are cylindrical and from fifteen to 
twenty-four inches long. The seeds of. Cassia tora are gath- 
ered by very poor people, and used as a substitute for coffee. 
Saraca cauliffora is a large wide-spreading tree with beau- 
tiful clusters of reddish-orange flowers. These flowers are 
long and tubular and without petals, with seven stamens aris- 
ing from the throat of the calyx tube. h 
The tamarind is found in great abundance over all of sout ‘ 
ern Siam, and is one of the most useful of all the trees in the 
country. The wood is heavy and hard, and is.used oe nial 
Ous purposes. The flowers, young leaves, and especially “i 
Sreat abundance of reddish, sour pulp, which surrounds the 
Seeds, are very palatable. The latter furnishes a Mase ee aes 
able sauce, which is eaten by all classes with rice sp pie 
Among the species in the suborder Mimosee, ee tee: 
oleracea is one of the most curious. It is a Ee oe 
with sensitive leaves and pretty little heads of Jered 4 . 
Its most peculiar feature, however, is a provision for “6 sat . 
light and air, when it happens to grow out vibes tishe ops 
Which is very frequently the case. At pena a ahe 
4 great abundance of very porous Spong 
than one-fourth inch in diameter, but when the floats have 
developed they measure fully an inch across. 
‘ 
